February 14, 2025, Special Education Updates

Minnesota Department of Education

Special Education Updates

February 14, 2025

Join us today for the Special Education Directors' Forum

The next Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Special Education Directors' Forum will be held virtually today, Friday, February 14, 2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Please register for the webinar on the ZoomGov website; you will then receive a link to join the webinar.

Webinar attendees will be muted; please use the Q and A function for questions during the Forum. Our partners at Paradigm Veritext will provide a live transcription of the Forum through Zoom. During the Forum, access the captions with the Closed Caption button at the bottom right of the Zoom meeting screen. If you wish to access the American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, please email Maggie Bangert.

Four Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for the February Forum.

This Forum will be recorded. A captioned version will be made available for later viewing.

Agenda 

  • Welcome and Announcements: Sonia Smith, Director of Special Education, MDE
  • Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE): Erin Toninato, Executive Director, MASE; Niceta Thomas, President, MASE
  • Agency and Legislative Updates: Daron Korte, Assistant Commissioner, MDE
  • Special Education Funding: Paul Ferrin, Special Education Funding and Data Supervisor, MDE
  • Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE): Danielle Hayden, Early Education Director, MDE
  • Break
  • General Counsel: Maren Hulden, Office of General Counsel, MDE
  • Indicator Data Collection Updates: Rebecca Nesset, Program Monitoring Supervisor, MDE
  • Getting Started with Billing for Mental Health Services in Special Education:

    Tom Delaney, Interagency Partnerships Supervisor, MDE; Jennifer Butler, School and Community-based Services Supervisor, DHS; Julie Neururer, School-based Medicaid Coordinator, DHS; Krista Moore, School-based Clinical Coordinator, DHS

  • Closing/Evaluation: Sonia Smith, Director of Special Education, MDE

Application Period Closes Today: Federal Education in the Most Integrated Setting Grant

The Federal Education in the Most Integrated Setting funding opportunity documentation for State Fiscal Year 2025, including the instructions, application and budget documentation, is now available on the Competitive Grant Opportunities website

MDE makes this funding available to Minnesota local education agencies (LEAs), intermediate districts, and special education cooperatives for the purpose of supporting local-level improvement activities that increase the rates of integration of students with disabilities as well as decreases to the rates of segregation of students with disabilities.

The application period closes today February 14, 2025, at 5 p.m. Central Standard Time. 

Please contact Holly Andersen at 651-582-8668 for further information.

Reminder: Save the Date for Medicaid in Education Spring Forum

The Minnesota Departments of Education and Human Services invite you to the Medicaid in Education Spring Forum on April 23–24, 2025, at the Best Western Kelly Inn Meeting Center in St. Cloud.

Forum Objectives

Participants will:

  • Gain an overview of the third-party billing process, including key tasks and timelines throughout the school year.
  • Learn about the new Mental Health Services in Special Education benefit and essential processes for its implementation.
  • Participate in interactive Q and A sessions to address commonly asked questions and deepen their understanding of forum topics.

Location and Schedule

  • Venue: Best Western Kelly Inn, 100 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301.
  • Meet and Greet: Join us on Wednesday, April 23, from 5–7 p.m. for appetizers at Green Mill, located inside the hotel.
  • Forum Day: The main event will take place on Thursday, April 24:
    • Check-in: 8:15 a.m.
    • Presentations: 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Registration and Lodging

A block of hotel rooms is available until March 23, 2025. To reserve a room, call the Best Western at 320-253-0606 and mention the code MDE DHS SPRING FORUM or book online with Best Western Hotels and Resorts.

Details on conference registration, the agenda and additional announcements will be shared soon. For questions, email Sandra Mikulsky.

The Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) Special Education Division works toward its vision that all children get necessary support for healthy development and lifelong learning; its mission is to provide leadership to ensure a high-quality education for Minnesota's children and youth with disabilities. To learn more, visit the Special Education section of the MDE website.